Backpacking Costa Rica: Itineraries, Hostels & Borders

If you are planning on backpacking Costa Rica, you have come to the right place! We have been living in Costa Rica for ten years and have done pretty much every bus route in the country. We have crossed the land borders multiple times (both into Panama and Nicaragua) so we know firsthand what that experience is like.

In this guide we cover everything you need to know about backpacking Costa Rica from border crossings, our favorite towns to visit, how to get around on a budget, suggested itineraries, and our best tips for keeping costs down.

Costa Rica gets skipped by a lot of backpackers doing the full Central America circuit because it costs more than Panama and Nicaragua. I get it. But it is also more fun, more biodiverse, and (I’m obviously biased) just better. It is completely doable on a backpacker budget if you know how. That’s what this guide is for.

Backpacking Costa Rica at a Glance

Budget: Yes, it costs more than its neighbors, but it’s doable. Travel May to November for lower prices.
Entry: You need proof of onward travel within 180 days. Tica Bus is a great, cheap option because it includes your passport number, which border control wants to see.
Backpacker towns: Monteverde, La Fortuna, Jacó, Manuel Antonio, Santa Teresa and Puerto Viejo.
Getting around: The public bus is cheapest. Join the Costa Rica by Bus Facebook group for route help, or book a shared shuttle when you want easy.
Panama: Take the public bus from San José to Sixaola for about $12 one-way.
Nicaragua: It’s usually less time consuming and less stressful than Panama. You’ll need proof you’re leaving within 180 days.
Where to sleep: Hostels or vacation rentals. Try Arenal Backpackers Resort in La Fortuna or Casa Bohio Surf.
Eat at sodas: A full casado runs about $7 to $9.
Beaches: All of them are free and publicly accessible by law.

Border Crossings While Backpacking Costa Rica

Anyone else get serious anxiety at border crossings? I always have mini panic attacks and it almost always turns out just fine!

Flying In

If you are starting your travels in Costa Rica you can fly into either the Liberia or San José airport.

The Liberia airport is only about an hour from the Nicaraguan border. It is great if you want a quick visit to some Guanacaste beaches and then plan on heading north to Nicaragua.

The San José airport is much more centrally located for everything else.

When you enter Costa Rica, you will need to show border control proof that you plan to leave within 180 days. There are two ways to do this:

Show a flight back to your home country (or onward from another Central American airport) within 180 days of entry. Check out our guide to finding cheap flights to Costa Rica for help with this.
Show proof of an onward bus ticket. The cheapest way to handle this is Tica Bus. You can book online, it requires your passport info, and it counts as legitimate proof of onward travel.

We have a complete guide to Costa Rica entry requirements that goes into more detail on all of this.

Costa Rica / Panama Border

Heading between Costa Rica and Panama is pretty straightforward, but it can occasionally get really backed up.

The best way to cross is by public bus between San José and the border town of Sixaola. It costs about $12 one-way.

For more info we have a complete guide to the Costa Rica / Panama border crossing including how to continue on to Bocas del Toro.

Costa Rica / Nicaragua Border

This is pretty much the same process as Panama, but is usually less time consuming and less stressful.

You will need to show proof of leaving within 180 days.

Our Costa Rica / Nicaragua border crossing guide has everything you need for that crossing.

Popular Towns for Backpackers

While backpacking through Costa Rica you will likely head to the places most easily accessible by public bus.

The most popular spots are usually Monteverde, La Fortuna, Jacó, Manuel Antonio, Santa Teresa, and Puerto Viejo.

Planning a trip to Costa Rica? We’ll walk you through it step by step

Monteverde

Monteverde is a small mountainous town in the cloud forest. It is always cooler here than the rest of the country and you can almost guarantee it will rain at some point.

3 budget-friendly things to do:

Walk the hanging bridges, cheaper than zip-lining and still impressive
Take a night hike to spot wildlife (usually bookable through your hostel for a reasonable price)
Explore the Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve, less crowded and cheaper than the Monteverde Reserve

Where to stay: Monteverde Backpackers, centrally located, comfortable, good social vibe

👉 Full Monteverde Guide

La Fortuna

Home to the stunning Arenal Volcano, this is one of our favorite destinations in the country for adventure. There is so much to do here that most people end up staying longer than planned.

3 budget-friendly things to do:

Hike to the La Fortuna Waterfall, small entrance fee, totally worth it
Walk the hanging bridges with views of Arenal Volcano
Soak in the free hot spring runoff along the river near town (it’s marked on Google Maps here)

Where to stay: Arenal Backpackers Resort, pool, hammocks, multiple room types, great atmosphere | Poshtel Arenal, super fun vibes

👉 Full La Fortuna Visitors Guide | How to Get from San José to La Fortuna

Jacó

A popular beach town only about 1.5 hours from San José, which makes it one of the easiest stops to add to any itinerary. It is known for its white sand beaches and nightlife scene.

3 budget-friendly things to do:

Surf or take a cheap surf lesson. There are plenty of instructors offering affordable rates on the beach
Walk or bike to Playa Hermosa just south of Jacó. It’s beautiful, much less crowded, and perfect more advanced surfers
Explore the Carara National Park nearby. It is great for birding and wildlife spotting

Where to stay:

Casa Bohio Surf: A short walk from the beach with a chill, community feel. Fully equipped shared kitchen, clean rooms, and consistently excellent reviews.
Casajungla Hostel: Just a 3-minute walk from Jacó Beach with an outdoor pool, garden, and shared lounge. Good social vibe without being too party-heavy.
Room2Board Hostel & Surf School: Right on the beach with a rooftop terrace, hammocks, ocean views, pool with a slide, and an on-site restaurant and bar. Also has its own surf school which is handy if you want lessons without having to go far.

👉 Full Jacó Visitors Guide | How to Get from San José to Jacó

Santa Teresa

A remote surf town at the tip of the Nicoya Peninsula. It is a bit of a mission to get here but absolutely worth the effort. It’s one of our favorite places in the country.

3 budget-friendly things to do:

Surf, this is one of our favorite surf spots in the country and lessons are widely available at reasonable prices. Plus, tons of places rent boards.
Watch the sunset from the beach. This is completely free and one of the best sunsets in Costa Rica
Bike between the beaches. Renting a bike is cheap and the best way to explore the area

Where to stay: Believe Surf & Yoga Lodge: A 2-minute walk from the beach with a pool, fitness room, daily yoga classes, and a restaurant serving vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options. Private rooms and dorms available.

👉 Full Santa Teresa Guide | San José to Santa Teresa

Puerto Viejo

The last major town on the Caribbean coast before the Panama border. It has a totally different vibe from the Pacific side. I’m talking reggae music, incredible food, and a more laid-back pace. It is popular with surfers and a great spot to chill out.

3 budget-friendly things to do:

Bike the coastal road to Manzanillo, stunning beaches the whole way and bike rentals are cheap
Visit Cahuita National Park, entry is by donation and the snorkeling is excellent
Explore the town on foot. The food scene here is amazing and a lot of our favorite spots are cheap sodas and street food

Where to stay: Kalunai Hostel, downtown location, hammocks, affordable bike rentals on site

👉 Full Puerto Viejo Guide | San José to Puerto Viejo | Things to Do in Puerto Viejo

Transportation in Costa Rica

We usually suggest that people rent a car in Costa Rica because it is definitely the easiest way to get around. But car rentals aren’t exactly budget-friendly.

If you do want to go that route, we have an exclusive 10% discount with Adobe Rent-a-Car. Check prices here.

The most affordable way to get around is by public bus. The bus system goes almost everywhere, but the schedule is confusing and a lot of things routee through San José, so getting between two destinations can sometimes involve multiple stops and a lot of waiting.

Another option is shared shuttles, which are more comfortable than the bus and often worth it for longer legs. Book your shared shuttle and use code SARAHMC5 for a 5% discount

You can also look into taxis for shorter hops.

See our full Costa Rica transportation guide for a complete breakdown of all your options.

For bus questions, I suggest joining the Costa Rica by Bus Facebook group.

We have also seen people hitchhiking in Costa Rica. We have given people rides ourselves on short stretches. But for longer distances, I wouldn’t suggest it.

💡 Sarah’s Tip

Have a bus question? Join the Costa Rica by Bus Facebook group. And keep in mind vacation rentals tend to be further from town centers than hostels, which matters when you’re arriving by bus.

Suggested Costa Rica Itineraries for Backpackers

These itineraries were created with public bus travel in mind. Three are for those of you only visiting Costa Rica. The last one is for those passing through between Panama and Nicaragua.

Just Costa Rica

San José → Jacó → Manuel Antonio → Uvita → Puerto Jiménez → San José

You could also easily add a stop in Dominical or Playa Hermosa to this route. With this one you can visit Manuel Antonio National Park and Corcovado National Park.

San José → Cahuita → Puerto Viejo → Bocas del Toro, Panama → San José

This route requires crossing into Panama, but Bocas del Toro is absolutely worth it. See our guide to getting from San José to Cahuita to start planning this one. Definitely recommend!

San José → La Fortuna → Monteverde → Santa Teresa (via Puntarenas ferry) → Montezuma → San José

Backpacking Central America

I wrote this with the idea that you would be starting on the Caribbean coast of Panama and heading to the Pacific coast of Nicaragua. Just reverse it if going the other way!

Bocas del Toro, Panama → Puerto Viejo → San José → Uvita → Manuel Antonio → Jacó → Santa Teresa (via Puntarenas ferry) → San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua

You can easily cut out Uvita, Manuel Antonio, or Jacó if you need to move faster. The downside of this route is it skips the mountain destinations like La Fortuna and Monteverde. But it moves cleanly by bus without too many complicated connections.

How to Find Affordable Accommodations

Your best options are hostels or VRBO. Most hostels in Costa Rica are decent. Some include breakfast and most have a shared kitchen guests can use.

We have a full guide to Costa Rica hostels with specific recommendations by town if you need help picking one.

We also sometimes find really good deals on VRBO, especially for places with a private kitchen (which helps a lot with keeping food costs down). Just keep in mind that vacation rentals tend to be a bit further from town centers than hostels, which matters when you are arriving by bus.

Affordable Activities in Costa Rica

We have a full post on 20 fun free activities in Costa Rica that is worth bookmarking.

All beaches in Costa Rica are legally required to have public access. That alone covers a huge amount of what makes this country amazing.

Packing Suggestions

We have complete packing lists for women and men, plus Amazon lists for every destination. We also have a guide to the best shoes for Costa Rica which is worth a read before you pack.

My number one packing tip: it is so humid here (and in the rest of Central America) that everything in your backpack will feel damp pretty much all the time. Pack fast-drying fabrics and save your plastic bags from the grocery store. They are perfect for keeping wet clothes from soaking everything else when you are moving between destinations.

Laundromats exist in all major towns, and some hostels have washers available for guests.

Our Backpacking Costa Rica Tips

Stay somewhere with a kitchen so you can cook some of your own meals. Check out our guide to grocery stores in Costa Rica for what to buy and where.
Eat at sodas. These are small local restaurants where you can get a casado (usually a meat, rice, beans, salad, and plantains) for around $7. We also have a full guide to eating on a budget in Costa Rica with lots more tips.
Buy alcohol in Panama or Nicaragua and bring it in. You are allowed to carry up to 5 liters per person.
Visit the local farmers markets for cheap produce. Ask at your hostel when the nearest one is.
Skip day tours that seem pricey and explore on your own when you can.
You don’t always need a guide at national parks.
Travel during rainy season (May to November). Prices drop across the board and the rain is usually just a short afternoon storm that clears up quickly.
Don’t book tours in advance. Hostels partner with operators and can often get you a better rate than booking online yourself.
Ask hostel staff what their favorite local activities are. That intel is almost always cheaper and more interesting than the standard tourist stuff.
If you are traveling solo, check out our solo travel guide for Costa Rica. It has some extra safety tips and advice specific to solo backpackers.

Overall, Costa Rica is a great place to visit for backpacking. Just keep in mind that the prices might not be as low as other Central American countries, but the vibes deliver!

You might also be interested in:

Start here

Backpacking Costa Rica: Everything You Need to Know Before You Go